5 promising new technologies in the sustainable industry

We are finally in the decade of 2020, and although we might not have flying cars (yet) we do have made significant progress as a society in terms of finding newer and more sustainable resources for energy production. 26.2% of the world’s total energy is produced from renewable sources. There are billions being invested globally by private organisations and governments in the renewable sector and R&D institute to aid a better, more viable and permanent innovations. We have compiled a few such technologies that hold the power to transform the world as we know it and reverse ecological damages. 

1. Transparent Solar Panels

Transparent photovoltaic panels was a technology that was created in the Michigan State University in 2014. This idea was originally thought to be a pipe dream as solar panels need to retain energy and transparent glass lets energy pass through it. These were initially solar concentrators that could be attached to any windshield, glass panel or window to turn it into a PV cell to produce electricity. European and American scientists have now attained full transparency on solar panels. The only problem that stands in the way of its large scale usage is the cost of its production. 

2. Pyrolysis 

It is burning of any compound in the lack of oxygen. When bio-degradable materials and agri-wastes are burnt through pyrolysis a healthy amount of charcoal is produced which in-turn is sold as fuel and serves as a great natural resource. As for non-bio-degradable waste like metals and plastics, pyrolysis is used to melt the goods in an eco-friendly way during the recycling process. It is also a very cost-effective method and is currently in use in most of the developed and developing nations. 

3.  Electric Transport/Vehicles 

Electric vehicles are unseen and quite prevalent but now governments all around the world are using EVs for public transportation. In cities like Pune and Hyderabad, EV buses are plying every day to reduce the carbon footprints of these growing metropolitans. Apart from these, remote/wireless charging for EVs is being experimented in South Korea to enable quick and efficient operation through electromagnetic fields. 

4. Carbon Capture

Large industries that cannot curb or reduce their carbon emissions are now capturing them for financial gains. This captured carbons from solid, liquid or gaseous waste are used to produce various products like plastics and inks. There no technology that allows industries and other establishments to capture carbon directly from the air. The cage-like molecules used in the capturing filters are called as ZIFs and amines. 

5. Artificial Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is literally the main biological process that runs the world. Everything in the eco-systems depends on the power of photosynthesis to use nothing but natural sunlight and carbon-di-oxide to produce bio-energy. Scientists have managed to replicate these processes on a small scale in the labs, but scaling up for commercial purposes remains a big challenge.